Gabriela Mayer

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“I am a Venezuelan-American who is empathetic, adventurous, curious, and friendly.”

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have lived in nine cities and three countries over the last nine years!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Florida – Civil Engineer

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Stanley Black & Decker – Digital Product Manager

What excites you most about studying in Washington, DC? – I love being in the capital of the U.S. where there is a lot of history and diversity. Being here also gives me access to working with government officials, non-profits, and large publicly traded companies.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Georgetown McDonough’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I love Georgetown’s emphasis on having a global business mindset. Every course we take and case study we read has a focus on being a successful global leader. This is key for becoming a great future leader.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Georgetown McDonough I am eager to obtain the MBA Certificate in Sustainable Business and take courses like Environmentally Sustainable Operations and Business Models to develop a deeper understanding of ESG approaches and learn how to incorporate them into business’s competitive strategies.

Georgetown McDonough programming focuses heavily on instilling a global mindset. Why is exposure to global diversity so critical to business success? It’s important to learn how to incorporate a global focus as the world becomes more united and interconnected. Business decisions that we make in the U.S. can easily affect other countries. For example, Stanley Black & Decker sold DEWALT tools primarily in the U.S. but bought a lot of their materials from China, Germany, Taiwan, and many other countries.

What would be your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  After graduating as a civil engineer, I worked in the construction industry overseeing the steel erection operation of the Kosciuszko Bridge in New York City. I led mostly male union workers who weren’t accustomed to taking orders from a woman, much less a young female engineer. To connect with them and gain their respect, I integrated myself into their routine and planned for unforeseen obstacles. Although this was a challenging experience, I harnessed my own resilience, ensured the project stayed on schedule and under budget, and saw it to completion.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? My career goal is to make the construction industry more sustainable through technology and innovation. To effectively transition construction companies into innovative greener practices, I need to better understand business models such that my recommendations are also profitable.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? Every morning, I read the Morning Brew which is a newsletter designed for young business professionals. It includes a stock market recap and a few short briefs on the most important business news of the day.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Georgetown McDonough’s MBA program?  Make sure you are your genuine self! The Georgetown Admissions Team does a great job of accepting like-minded individuals that will contribute to the McDonough community. Don’t get overwhelmed by not having a high enough test score or GPA. If you come across as your authentic self, that will go a long way!

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